Government vows for “safer Korea”

By Jhoo Dong-chan

The government announced plans to make Korea safer, following a recent series of man-made disasters including the deadly fires that took place in Jecheon and a Jongno motel.

“Today’s main topic is public safety,” Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon said during the joint media conference at the Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City, Wednesday.

“According to Statistics Korea, only 13 out of 100 citizens say they feel safe in Korea. A series of man-made disasters took place last year, and yet still continue this year. It should stop now.”

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled plans to halve the deaths from traffic accidents by 2022.

“The number of traffic accident casualties has consistently gone down, but there is still a long way to go before the nation’s roads become as safe as other advanced countries,” it said in a press release.

“The ministry will switch to a pedestrian-first traffic system from the current vehicle-first system. The in-city speed limit will be reduced to 50 kilometers per hour from the current 60 kilometers per hour.”

The health ministry announced it will enhance its capacity to contain infectious diseases by establishing the 24-hour monitoring and response system. It will also strengthen its support for regional emergency medical centers across the country.

The Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries said it will concentrate its efforts to provide safer and healthier marine products. It will tighten its regulations on the nation’s sewage treatment plants while cleaning up ocean waste to help improve the ocean environment.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will also take a similar approach by strengthening its monitoring system on agricultural pesticides and antibiotic use. Egg products will be subject to chemical tests for safety. It will also tighten its monitoring system on cosmetics and sanitary pad products.

The Ministry of Environment said it will do its best to help improve the nation’s ever-worsening fine dust problem while establishing a comprehensive water quality management system.

In order to help improve the nation’s atmospheric conditions, the ministry will also closely discuss this issue with the Chinese government.